This game seems to be the best game of PS3 I’ve played so far.. The visuals are spectacular, most of the animations are top notch. The facial expressions are really well done, but I won’t go out and say it is better than Heavenly Swords, I mean, come on. I really liked the AI.
I have one gripe with the animation, and it is about one of the most repeated animations: the *standard* jump animation (on flat). At the end of the jump, his body rocks forward and backwards for no particular reason, and it ruins the feel of it. It feels very unnatural and I don’t understand how they let that slip by. Just take a look at the end of the animation, the slight rock forward backwards ruins it for me. It is important because it is played out very often, as you’ll be jumping all the time. But the game is so good, I’ll learn to ignore it.
My score is 95/100 .
p.s. And it is not a goddamn Tomb Raider clone.
#3 by Darrin on November 10th, 2007
[ 15187 Points ]
The demo plays exactly like it looks.
Technically, it’s great. The graphics, the controls, and the gunplay are all excellent. The character animation is the real standout technical achievement.
However, the game experience itself seems a little bland. The characters and the story are just so plain. Most good games give you some emotion: either fear or excitement or suspense or wonder or joy or humor, this game seems to lack that. Maybe I need to play a little farther before the game absorbs me. It wasn’t completely boring, and the technology was great, but so far it is too bland.
A lot of people are pointing to this as the big PS3 game of the year. Right now, I just don’t see that. Maybe I will after playing more.
#4 by Darrin on November 10th, 2007
[ 15187 Points ]
Emrah, you say that the animation, facial expressions, graphics, and AI are all great. I completely agree, but I just don’t see what makes this game fun. The gunplay is good, but it lacks the action and excitement of a Call of Duty or Resistance type game. I also didn’t feel any exciting exploration elements either. Please explain.
Maybe I am to much wowed by the technical aspects of it, but I did have fun playing the demo. I liked the shoot-outs, and the over the shoulder camera shooting is new to me but maybe not so new to many of you, so it was also interesting for me. The controls seemed easy to get to grips with.
About the characters being plain, this may be a reflection of the action flicks that this game is inspired on, I have no problems playing out those action flicks myself this time around. I am not expecting too many surprises in the story. But maybe the demo is too short to comment on any of it, it would be too much to ask for a demo that goes deep into the characters and the story. Maybe, and I sincerely hope it will be compelling for you when you play the full version. I must say I won’t be nit-picky about the story or the characters, because the gameplay mechanics was fun for me.
“However, the game experience itself seems a little bland. The characters and the story are just so plain. Most good games give you some emotion: either fear or excitement or suspense or wonder or joy or humor, this game seems to lack that. Maybe I need to play a little farther before the game absorbs me. It wasn’t completely boring, and the technology was great, but so far it is too bland.”
thats pretty funny, you just judged a demo on storyline lol. Your not supposed to do that, of course it has no story line, it starts on chapter 4.
I liked the demo, albeit a short one, they could at least have let you find the woman….geeze.
Ok, are you ready for my cons??? Here they go, so buckle up.
Why do the enemies take so many shots to drop?? Also, there is a problem with aiming. Many times I aimed directly at them and shot and it didnt register a shot. Also, the pressing of the O button to use cover causes problems at times.
If you want to see the problem with the cover system just get in an area with lots of cover close together, and hit O…. A lot of the times it would “SNAP” me to the wrong cover and leave me in the direct line of fire. I have a small gripe about what is climbable and what is not. Many times I would jump to grab an obvious ledge only to find that it was non climbable, yet two feet over it was??
Other than that it was good, and I look forward to playing the whole game. It itrigued me enough to want to play the rest….and no, its not a Tomb Raider Clone.
#11 by bunnyhero on November 11th, 2007
[ 1850 Points ]
i’m definitely intrigued by the demo. it sure looks beautiful, and is a lot shootier than i had expected. but it’s such a small slice, it’s hard to get any sense of what the story will be like.
so in some ways i am impressed; in others, a little underwhelmed. it’s too hard to tell from this demo alone.
Darrin – you’ve got it right.
Derrickgott007 – I noticed those issues too. There was a distinct feeling of old-style linear gameplay, meaning that I never really had the feeling that I was ‘exploring’ the jungle. I really disliked the lighter-green vine which indicated that I could climb it.
As to not judging a game by its demo; that’s exactly what a demo is for. By definition, a demo is a demonstration of the various aspects of the game, released prior to availability of the final version in order to allow gamers to decide whether they want to buy it.
Once you get used to the control and the cover system the game become very immersive. Lots of action and there a lot of differents way to confront the ennemies either through your shooting position on the map, if you try to sneak them or go with a fist fight.
I like the reaction of Nathan when he picks up a new weapon or realizes there is new ennemies approaching. There is a lot of humour which is good. I think a good story would compensate for the fact that there is a lot of shooting in the game, however I hope there is puzzles to solve and more environment to explore in the full game.
A must buy for me! And I like the fact that lots of new PS3 games have french translation. Movies are translated, it should be the same for games.
I really liked the demo, and I must say, that I am impressed by the “intelligence” showed in the enemy characters.
Often while I was in cover, I was being pinned down by some, while others tried to get around the cover all the while grenadfes were thrown at me as well.
I also hope, that there will be some puzzles along the way, but I am very positive. This is an immediate must-buy for me.
Oh, I really like how the water soaks the characters clothes.
The demo was great and i knew this game was going to be a hit the moment i heard about it. One thing i must say to all of you, never judge a game by the demo ! They kept it short so not to ruin any of the real game and take away some of the excitment. All this demo did was give you a lil tatse of the graphics and technology that they have implemented into the game. Darrin mentioned that the game seemed a lil bland, well i can assure you that this was done on purpose because the demo stops right before anything actually happens. I have a good feeling that this game is going to surprise alot of people
One last thing…Demo’s have been doing this sort of thing for a long time. Every once and a while a really good demo will come out that let’s you bascially do everything in it, that you can do in the final game, but the bad thing there is that it ends up ruining the game for you cuz you have already been there, done that. Know what i’m saying here guy’s (CoD 4 beta for the 360). Then you have demo’s for Uncharted that look spectacular and play great, but you never get too excited because not alot of gameplay and story is shown. Trust me when i say this is a common thing and they did in on purpose. They want you to get the game and everything be a surprise to you when you do get it. I know i’m picking it up on the 19th !!
ummmm is everyone crazy here ? The demo wasn’t great or even good. you can clearly make out gliches in the animations and the graphics arent anything to go WOW about ..he climbes onto rocks and it doesnt even look like he’s on them ..it’s so glitchy…the charactor never feels like it’s really walking directly on land …almost like it’s coasting along..i think this game was and still is WAY over hyped….i was looking forward to this demo and i could hardly stay awake while i was playing it….HORRIBLE GAME!
Some gamer’s have such high expectations that nothing satisfies them. I like the demo. It was exactly what I expected it to be. I will be getting this game on release. I saw no glitches, but glitches in a demo should be expected. The Rachet and Clank demo had tons of glitches, but they were fixed for the final game. A demo gives you an inside peek to what the final product will be like. It’s not the final product.
Overall, The game is going to be great and I really enjoyed this demo.
I really liked it. Gameplay wasn’t new but fairly polished (there is a problem with aiming but maybe that was done on purpose(?)). It looks fantastic and if it plays in 1080p I’ll be very pleased. I’m sure it’ll look epic on my new Sony Full HD LCD I’m getting! I’d go as far as saying it’s one of the best looking PS3 games to date.
It sounded good and the music was okay. I’m hoping it’ll have a fair amount of humour in it too.
Really looking forward to it.
Graphics and animations are stunning – even the odd tear didn’t jar as much as it normally does. Gameplay looks pretty solid. Sound was a bit weak I thought – not enough ambient noises when there wasn’t any music (jungles aren’t that quiet usually), and the music wasn’t epic to make up for it.
But still nice for a demo – didn’t give too much away either.
The aiming reticle is meant to be an area representing where your shot will approximately hit. Its like the reticle for a shotgun (in any other FPS) but in this case, the handgun has a smaller area. The opposite of this is CounterStrike, where your aiming device is a cross (instead of an open circle) and every bullet hits (unrealistically) where the crossmark is sitting.
About the cover: you’re not meant to be *standing* somewhere and just all of a sudden try to cover and let the AI decide where he’s gonna go. The character is supposed to be running AT cover (or pressing the analog stick in SOME direction) in order for him to properly take cover on whatever surface you choose… duh?
The fact that “he climbes onto rocks and it doesnt even look like he’s on them” and “the charactor never feels like it’s really walking directly on land” is something inherent to making a sick 3D game with a sick 3D character. Back in the days of Tomb Raider, the surfaces were totally flat with some random textures. Now, they model big rocks, and little rocks, and accents on the terrain, and it might give the impression that he’s “floating” some times. It remains, however, that every one of my friends that has seen this game (and are not game enthusiasts) are amazed at how detailed the character and environment are.
Ive played this demo a bunch of times over and dont get tired of it. I’ll probably save this game for Christmas, when I actually have some time to play games… but its definitely a *must* buy.
#1 by Emrah on November 10th, 2007
This game seems to be the best game of PS3 I’ve played so far.. The visuals are spectacular, most of the animations are top notch. The facial expressions are really well done, but I won’t go out and say it is better than Heavenly Swords, I mean, come on. I really liked the AI.
I have one gripe with the animation, and it is about one of the most repeated animations: the *standard* jump animation (on flat). At the end of the jump, his body rocks forward and backwards for no particular reason, and it ruins the feel of it. It feels very unnatural and I don’t understand how they let that slip by. Just take a look at the end of the animation, the slight rock forward backwards ruins it for me. It is important because it is played out very often, as you’ll be jumping all the time. But the game is so good, I’ll learn to ignore it.
My score is 95/100 .
p.s. And it is not a goddamn Tomb Raider clone.
#2 by babylon5 on November 10th, 2007
The gameplay is classic, nothing really new there, but the graphics and the animations are impressive.
Also, the AI was very challenging, even in easy mode it took me a while to finish the whole level.
I’ll definitely buy it, but I don’t see it as GOTY/massive console seller.
But maybe I’m still vowed by COD4
#3 by Darrin on November 10th, 2007 [ 15187 Points ]
The demo plays exactly like it looks.
Technically, it’s great. The graphics, the controls, and the gunplay are all excellent. The character animation is the real standout technical achievement.
However, the game experience itself seems a little bland. The characters and the story are just so plain. Most good games give you some emotion: either fear or excitement or suspense or wonder or joy or humor, this game seems to lack that. Maybe I need to play a little farther before the game absorbs me. It wasn’t completely boring, and the technology was great, but so far it is too bland.
A lot of people are pointing to this as the big PS3 game of the year. Right now, I just don’t see that. Maybe I will after playing more.
#4 by Darrin on November 10th, 2007 [ 15187 Points ]
Emrah, you say that the animation, facial expressions, graphics, and AI are all great. I completely agree, but I just don’t see what makes this game fun. The gunplay is good, but it lacks the action and excitement of a Call of Duty or Resistance type game. I also didn’t feel any exciting exploration elements either. Please explain.
#5 by Emrah on November 10th, 2007
Maybe I am to much wowed by the technical aspects of it, but I did have fun playing the demo. I liked the shoot-outs, and the over the shoulder camera shooting is new to me but maybe not so new to many of you, so it was also interesting for me. The controls seemed easy to get to grips with.
About the characters being plain, this may be a reflection of the action flicks that this game is inspired on, I have no problems playing out those action flicks myself this time around. I am not expecting too many surprises in the story. But maybe the demo is too short to comment on any of it, it would be too much to ask for a demo that goes deep into the characters and the story. Maybe, and I sincerely hope it will be compelling for you when you play the full version. I must say I won’t be nit-picky about the story or the characters, because the gameplay mechanics was fun for me.
#6 by Sakinah on November 10th, 2007 [ 25397 Points ]
Hmmm..don’t judge a game by it’s demo?
#7 by Emrah on November 10th, 2007
Well, if you are judging the characters and the story, probably no, but gameplay elements are there to check out.
#8 by matt on November 10th, 2007
LOl
“However, the game experience itself seems a little bland. The characters and the story are just so plain. Most good games give you some emotion: either fear or excitement or suspense or wonder or joy or humor, this game seems to lack that. Maybe I need to play a little farther before the game absorbs me. It wasn’t completely boring, and the technology was great, but so far it is too bland.”
thats pretty funny, you just judged a demo on storyline lol. Your not supposed to do that, of course it has no story line, it starts on chapter 4.
#9 by Darrin on November 10th, 2007 [ 15187 Points ]
OK, I’ll definitely still give this a shot. The demo *was* fun, just not overwhelmingly so.
So, matt+flea+everyone else: Are you just going to lurk? Where’s your opinion of the demo?
#10 by derrickgott007 on November 10th, 2007
And that’s my cue!! Thanks Darrin!
I liked the demo, albeit a short one, they could at least have let you find the woman….geeze.
Ok, are you ready for my cons??? Here they go, so buckle up.
Why do the enemies take so many shots to drop?? Also, there is a problem with aiming. Many times I aimed directly at them and shot and it didnt register a shot. Also, the pressing of the O button to use cover causes problems at times.
If you want to see the problem with the cover system just get in an area with lots of cover close together, and hit O…. A lot of the times it would “SNAP” me to the wrong cover and leave me in the direct line of fire. I have a small gripe about what is climbable and what is not. Many times I would jump to grab an obvious ledge only to find that it was non climbable, yet two feet over it was??
Other than that it was good, and I look forward to playing the whole game. It itrigued me enough to want to play the rest….and no, its not a Tomb Raider Clone.
#11 by bunnyhero on November 11th, 2007 [ 1850 Points ]
i’m definitely intrigued by the demo. it sure looks beautiful, and is a lot shootier than i had expected. but it’s such a small slice, it’s hard to get any sense of what the story will be like.
so in some ways i am impressed; in others, a little underwhelmed. it’s too hard to tell from this demo alone.
i’ll still probably get it.
#12 by Villable on November 11th, 2007
The best of the best
#13 by Tom on November 11th, 2007
Darrin – you’ve got it right.
Derrickgott007 – I noticed those issues too. There was a distinct feeling of old-style linear gameplay, meaning that I never really had the feeling that I was ‘exploring’ the jungle. I really disliked the lighter-green vine which indicated that I could climb it.
As to not judging a game by its demo; that’s exactly what a demo is for. By definition, a demo is a demonstration of the various aspects of the game, released prior to availability of the final version in order to allow gamers to decide whether they want to buy it.
#14 by Sakinah on November 11th, 2007 [ 25397 Points ]
No broadband so I can’t download any demos. Which means I have to lurk. xD
#15 by François on November 11th, 2007
Once you get used to the control and the cover system the game become very immersive. Lots of action and there a lot of differents way to confront the ennemies either through your shooting position on the map, if you try to sneak them or go with a fist fight.
I like the reaction of Nathan when he picks up a new weapon or realizes there is new ennemies approaching. There is a lot of humour which is good. I think a good story would compensate for the fact that there is a lot of shooting in the game, however I hope there is puzzles to solve and more environment to explore in the full game.
A must buy for me! And I like the fact that lots of new PS3 games have french translation. Movies are translated, it should be the same for games.
#16 by Glitch on November 11th, 2007
I really liked the demo, and I must say, that I am impressed by the “intelligence” showed in the enemy characters.
Often while I was in cover, I was being pinned down by some, while others tried to get around the cover all the while grenadfes were thrown at me as well.
I also hope, that there will be some puzzles along the way, but I am very positive. This is an immediate must-buy for me.
Oh, I really like how the water soaks the characters clothes.
#17 by Pc on November 11th, 2007 [ 1935 Points ]
The demo was great and i knew this game was going to be a hit the moment i heard about it. One thing i must say to all of you, never judge a game by the demo ! They kept it short so not to ruin any of the real game and take away some of the excitment. All this demo did was give you a lil tatse of the graphics and technology that they have implemented into the game. Darrin mentioned that the game seemed a lil bland, well i can assure you that this was done on purpose because the demo stops right before anything actually happens. I have a good feeling that this game is going to surprise alot of people
#18 by Pc on November 11th, 2007 [ 1935 Points ]
One last thing…Demo’s have been doing this sort of thing for a long time. Every once and a while a really good demo will come out that let’s you bascially do everything in it, that you can do in the final game, but the bad thing there is that it ends up ruining the game for you cuz you have already been there, done that. Know what i’m saying here guy’s (CoD 4 beta for the 360). Then you have demo’s for Uncharted that look spectacular and play great, but you never get too excited because not alot of gameplay and story is shown. Trust me when i say this is a common thing and they did in on purpose. They want you to get the game and everything be a surprise to you when you do get it. I know i’m picking it up on the 19th !!
#19 by Tommyboy on November 11th, 2007
ummmm is everyone crazy here ? The demo wasn’t great or even good. you can clearly make out gliches in the animations and the graphics arent anything to go WOW about ..he climbes onto rocks and it doesnt even look like he’s on them ..it’s so glitchy…the charactor never feels like it’s really walking directly on land …almost like it’s coasting along..i think this game was and still is WAY over hyped….i was looking forward to this demo and i could hardly stay awake while i was playing it….HORRIBLE GAME!
#20 by Spector on November 11th, 2007
Some gamer’s have such high expectations that nothing satisfies them. I like the demo. It was exactly what I expected it to be. I will be getting this game on release. I saw no glitches, but glitches in a demo should be expected. The Rachet and Clank demo had tons of glitches, but they were fixed for the final game. A demo gives you an inside peek to what the final product will be like. It’s not the final product.
Overall, The game is going to be great and I really enjoyed this demo.
#21 by Slacky on November 11th, 2007
I really liked it. Gameplay wasn’t new but fairly polished (there is a problem with aiming but maybe that was done on purpose(?)). It looks fantastic and if it plays in 1080p I’ll be very pleased. I’m sure it’ll look epic on my new Sony Full HD LCD I’m getting! I’d go as far as saying it’s one of the best looking PS3 games to date.
It sounded good and the music was okay. I’m hoping it’ll have a fair amount of humour in it too.
Really looking forward to it.
#22 by Michael on November 11th, 2007
Graphics and animations are stunning – even the odd tear didn’t jar as much as it normally does. Gameplay looks pretty solid. Sound was a bit weak I thought – not enough ambient noises when there wasn’t any music (jungles aren’t that quiet usually), and the music wasn’t epic to make up for it.
But still nice for a demo – didn’t give too much away either.
#23 by Kamesen on November 12th, 2007
The aiming reticle is meant to be an area representing where your shot will approximately hit. Its like the reticle for a shotgun (in any other FPS) but in this case, the handgun has a smaller area. The opposite of this is CounterStrike, where your aiming device is a cross (instead of an open circle) and every bullet hits (unrealistically) where the crossmark is sitting.
About the cover: you’re not meant to be *standing* somewhere and just all of a sudden try to cover and let the AI decide where he’s gonna go. The character is supposed to be running AT cover (or pressing the analog stick in SOME direction) in order for him to properly take cover on whatever surface you choose… duh?
The fact that “he climbes onto rocks and it doesnt even look like he’s on them” and “the charactor never feels like it’s really walking directly on land” is something inherent to making a sick 3D game with a sick 3D character. Back in the days of Tomb Raider, the surfaces were totally flat with some random textures. Now, they model big rocks, and little rocks, and accents on the terrain, and it might give the impression that he’s “floating” some times. It remains, however, that every one of my friends that has seen this game (and are not game enthusiasts) are amazed at how detailed the character and environment are.
Ive played this demo a bunch of times over and dont get tired of it. I’ll probably save this game for Christmas, when I actually have some time to play games… but its definitely a *must* buy.
#24 by west coast ps3 on November 12th, 2007
To me this game is a lot like Tomb Raider Aniversary Edition. I think that is a good thing though, I really liked that game.
The controls in the demo were good, graphics were good, it was a lot of fun.
I probably will rent it first, as it looks like the sort of game you could finish in a few sessions.